There is a lot to consider when selling your home and one of the things to put at the top of your list is the photos of your home. In 2017, the largest segment of home buyers were millennials and according to the National Association of Realtors, 99% of millennials search for homes online. The pictures of your home will show up on websites across the world and are the greatest factor in determining if buyers will schedule an appointment to see your home in person. I seriously mean the biggest factor. It doesn’t matter what the price of your home is if the pictures are awful when someone looks at them, they are unlikely to want to see it in person.

I am sure you have heard that you never get a second chance to make a first impression and selling your home is no different. Your photos need to say everything about your home and entice buyers to want to see your home in person right away. Now that we have explained the importance of your photographs, here are some tips to get your home ready for its close up. Clean and not a quick cleaning job. If you aren’t up for the task, hire a cleaning crew for a deep clean. Floors, windows, fixtures, baseboards, appliances, bathrooms and everything in between.

Have your carpets professionally cleaned as well. It really does make a difference.

Declutter and depersonalize all the rooms in your home. Countertops and table topsshould be empty minus a single statement piece.

Clean out your closets. Nothing says not enough storage space like an overflowing closet. Don’t run buyers away because your walk-in won’t hold all of their shoes.

Don’t skip the garage. How many people park cars in their driveway instead of the garage because the garage has turned into a storage space? Buyers want to see a spacious garage with room for their car plus storage of outdoor tools and sporting equipment.

Enlist an honest friend to walk through your home with you and point out the areas that need to be repaired. It’s easy to overlook things when you see them every day but a buyer will scrutinize every detail so you want to get ahead of them.

Once your home looks like it belongs on an HGTV special, have your agent send a professional photographer to capture its beauty. These photographs will be everywhere in a matter of hours so they need to showcase your home like a fine piece of art. The extra attention you put into preparing your home for the market will be noticed so have a plan for where to go when it’s time for your first showing so the buyer of your home can enjoy looking at your home in private.

Think back to elementary school and you and your best friend on the seesaw going up and down over and over. When you were up, your friend was down and vice versa and every now and then for a brief moment, the see saw would balance and you would both be even. This is a perfect analogy for the real estate market. Here is a quick education on the different types of real estate markets you can encounter and what they mean.

Buyer’s Market-A buyer’s market is indicated when there are more homes for sale than there are buyers in the market. A buyer may be able to capitalize on this and save money compared to other points in time. Sellers often have to reduce the price of their homes or offer other incentives to sell their property.

Seller’s Market-A seller’s market is indicated when there are more buyers searching for homes than properties for sale. Sellers are able to sell their homes for top dollar in very short periods of time and often receive multiple offers. Some homes sell for more than the list price of the home.

Balanced Market-A balanced markets exists when three to six months of inventory is currently available and homes are selling for close to their list price.

While these definitions are pretty cut and dry, the real estate market rarely is. The various real estate markets can be applied to an entire city, neighborhood, by price ranges or even different types of properties. It is extremely common to see a seller’s market in lower entry-level price ranges while a buyer’s market exists concurrently in higher price ranges.

Some agents might advise you to refrain from selling your home during a buyer’s market unless you absolutely have to but in most cases selling won’t have a negative impact on your portfolio. Though you may have to sell your home for less than you would have in a different time period, if you plan to turn around and reinvest in a new home, you will likely make up the difference with the added home value you are able to purchase.

Working with an experienced real estate agent will ensure that your real estate approach is appropriate for both the current market as well as your real estate goals.

Contact me today for a consultation. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about buying or selling a home.

A few brief glimpses of warmer weather may have teased you into a lighter jacket or a short sleeve shirt but warm weather will eventually be here for good. Take a little time now on one of the milder days to take care of someroutine home maintenance so when the sun is actually shining, your day can be spent doing something fun.

Give your Roof a Once Over-Ice, packed snow, wind, falling limbs and many more things can damage your roof without you even realizing it. Depending on the pitch of your roof and height of your home, you may need to call a professional but you or an expert should thoroughly examine all the parts of your roof for any damage or wear. A small repair can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage caused by a leak that could have been prevented. Spring and summer storms can be brutal on roofs so make sure your roof isn’t overly susceptible to any storm damage.

Check your Gutters-Leaking or overflowing gutters can cause damage to your home from penetrating water. Make sure your gutters are empty and properly directing water away from your home.

Tune Up Your Lawn Equipment-Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers and other equipment all need to be serviced regularly. Before the season starts, change filters, oil and make any necessary repairs.

Service your AC Unit-Definitely call the professional on this one. An efficiently running system will save you money and extend the life of your unit. Regularly maintained systems last longer and break down less saving you money and avoiding hot summer days with no air condition.

Give Your Home a Thorough Spring Cleaning-It’s easy to let the deep cleaning go for long periods of time when you have a lot going on. Take a weekend and really give your home a super deep clean. This will also allow you to inspect all of the different parts of your home so you can take note of any other items you need to address down the road.

Let spring be a fresh start for you and your home. These tips will make sure your home is well prepared for the warmer months that will eventually get here.

“We feel very lucky to have "found" Ms. Maureen Cool through a random inquiry about a property that was listed on the internet. After meeting with Ms. Cool one time, she knew what we were looking for, our budget and what we expected our retirement home to be. Being 800 miles away, Maureen was our eyes and ears as she kept our best interest at heart and was there when we couldn't be. She found us a incredible property, which was a "short sale" and 10 months later, Maureen's dedication and persistence paid off !! In our eyes, we are now the proud owners of our "perfect piece of paradise" and we looking forward to our retirement years in Sebring !!! Her professionalism and her work ethic are outstanding and we would HIGHLY recommend Ms. Cool for any or all of your Real Estate needs.”

Tina Wallace, Sebring, FL

Attentive and Available

“You were very attentive, professional and willing to help. You called or returned our calls promptly, and that was very much appreciated. We requested pictures of the house. You sent them so quickly. That was very helpful. It was helpful we could get hold of you over the weekend. You did very well for us. Thank you!”

Celina Birecki, Sebring, FL

Caring and Honest

“Again, mahalo for all your help and honest advice. You seem to care about what is right for people and not just your commission. Mom is still set on buying something, but we have convinced her to get something less expensive so she can keep some cash to live on.”

Mark Elkhill, Hawaii

For the uninformed, blogging is hitting the Internet today and making a real impact!

What is a blog? An easy explanation of this is a WEB LOG or a journal on the web. It’s a place where folks can “voice” their thoughts, share ideas, or comment on those of others.

Highlands County Florida now has such a blog where new items of interest will be posted and comments can be made. Topics range from those related to real estate and community highlights to local events of interest or anything personal or business related that might be perceived as worthwhile information for public knowledge, discussion and/or use.

It’s even possible to subscribe to a blog of interest and receive text updates on your iPod! Check out the latest updates for the Highlands County Real Estate Blog:

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